THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603220522
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
City school administrators say they will be able to expand a successful preschool program two weeks after warning that a lack of classroom space might force them to reject nearly $2 million in state aid to add more children.
``Based on your sentiment and the community's sentiment, we think it's important to accept this money,'' school budget Director Forrest ``Hap'' White told the School Board Thursday.
White said the additional $1.8 million in state funds will pay for 24 additional classrooms and will pick up six classes that are funded by federal Title 1 money that is being cut. In Norfolk, 14 of the city's 35 elementary schools qualify for the federal funds, which go to educate disadvantaged youngsters.
The state money is part of a statewide initiative started two years ago to create preschool classes for 4-year-olds ``at risk'' of failure because of social or economic factors. Children not in the federal Head Start or other early childhood programs are eligible.
White said state funding for the 1996-97 school year will allow the district to add 480 4-year-olds. Currently, about 1,100 4-year-olds are being served through a combination of federal, state and local funding. Even so, the effort still will reach only about 60 percent of the eligible children, White said.
School Board members had pressured the administration to find the space. White said some classes will be placed in city recreation centers.
``Early childhood education is a long-term panacea to many of the problems we face - discipline problems, low attendance and achievement problems,'' board Chairman Ulysses Turner said. ``
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOL BOARD NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS by CNB